Bobby Jameson - Color Him In (1967) (produced by Curt Boettcher) [FLAC][2006 Reissue]

Jameson was a mysterious figure who might be most known for recording a Mick Jagger-Keith Richards composition that the Rolling Stones never released, "All I Want Is My Baby," on a 1965 single. This is one of his two albums, and it's much more a Californian-sounding, faintly psychedelic-speckled pop/rock record than a British Invasion one. Produced by Curt Boettcher, it's an odd LP, not so much for its weirdness -- it's not that weird -- as its strange juxtaposition of 1966-1967 rock styles. Jameson writes intense songs of soul-searching and questioning, yet the tunes are dressed up in rather normal good-time Southern California pop/rock arrangements, with cheerful female backing vocals that verge on the too-chipper, sometimes to the point of annoyance.

At times, his sly, mind-rushing-to-keep-pace-with-the-tongue lyrics recall early Arthur Lee, particularly on "The New Age," where the phrasing is extremely similar to the kind Lee used on early Love tracks like "You I'll Be Following." "Windows & Doors" also bears an early Love influence. Yet "I Love You More Than You Know" could almost be Philadelphia blue-eyed soul, so straight-sounding is it, while "Jenny" isn't far from easy listening lounge lizard crooning, without much apparent irony. It's an interesting, but not terribly interesting, mildly eccentric pop/rock album with a dash of flower power. It's not, incidentally, nearly as good (or Love-influenced) as another rare LP of roughly the same time, Chris Lucey's Songs of Protest and Anti-Protest, that is apparently the work of Jameson under a pseudonym.

West Coast folk-rocker Bobby Jameson is best known -- or, perhaps, not known at all -- for Songs of Protest and Anti-Protest, the sought-after cult LP he recorded under the alias Chris Lucey. Born Robert Parker Jameson in Geneva, Illinois, Jameson cut his debut single, "I Wanna Love You," for the Talamo label in early 1964. The record was a regional hit, and even earned him an appearance on American Bandstand. Although the follow-ups "Okey Fanokey Baby" and "All Alone" went nowhere, Jameson nevertheless captured the attention of Rolling Stones producer Andrew Loog Oldham, and in late 1964 he flew to London to record the Decca single "All I Want Is My Baby," co-written by Oldham and Stones guitarist Keith Richards. (The B-side, "Each and Every Day of the Year," credits authorship to Richards and Mick Jagger.) After a 1956 one-off for the Brit imprint, "I Wanna Know," Jameson returned to Los Angeles, where he befriended producer Marshall Lieb. At this time Lieb was in the midst of helming the debut Surrey Records release by folkie Chris Ducey, but with the album covers already printed and the disc ready to ship, contractual snafus forced the project into limbo. Lieb coerced Jameson into writing and recording a new batch of tunes based on Ducey's existing song titles, and after some creative tinkering with the cover art, Songs of Protest and Anti-Protest -- now credited to Chris Lucey and, for reasons unknown, featuring a photo of Rolling Stone Brian Jones -- finally hit retail. Promoted via what was then the most expensive and lavish Billboard advertising supplement ever printed, the album -- a deeply idiosyncratic psych-folk opus closely resembling the classic early LPs by Arthur Lee and Love -- nevertheless proved a commercial flop; in the U.K., it appeared under Jameson's own name and a different title, Too Many Mornings, but still stiffed. Jameson did not resurface until mid-1966, releasing "Gotta Find My Roogalator" -- arranged by Frank Zappa, and recorded with L.A. session virtuosos including Carol Kaye on bass and Larry Knechtel on piano -- on Pat Boone's Penthouse label. He then signed to Verve, where the Our Productions team of Curt Boettcher, Jim Bell, and Steve Clark helmed his 1967 LP Color Him In.

But that's not the end of the story of Bobby Jameson.This guy had a really hard life .He told his story from his view on his blog. Take a look. The adress is bobbyjameson.blogspot.com. Bobby Jameson died in may 15th 2015 at the age of 70.

I will post the ''Chris Lucey's Songs of Protest and Anti-Protest'' at a later date if there is any interest.
The link as always in the comments


Cheers
           SB1

The Astral Projection - The Astral Scene (1968) Sunshine Psychedelic Pop (Flac)

 

Composed of studio musicians, most notably the late great guitarist Hugh McCracken, who played with everybody from the Monkees to Simon to Garfunkel to Van Morrison to Steely Dan to John Lennon, the Astral Projection existed for just this one album.

Heavily orchestrated and glistening with birdsong harmonies and melodies, The Astral Scene rests firmly on the soft-rock wing occupied by the Cowsills, the Association and the Blades of Grass. The production values are clean and sparkly, the structures are adventurous enough to prompt repeated spins, and the performances are disciplined and proportioned.
Tracks like “(Mind Flight) Overture – The Airways Of The Imagination,” “The Happening People,” “Accordion Pleated Mind” and “(Astral Exploration)…Overtures, Dreams, Shadows And Illusions” illustrate the group’s positive affirmations to solid effects. Rhythms drift, float and soar, and the textures of the tunes are flush with color and motion. Pumping big brass sounds, string arrangements and flower pop motifs into a single blender, The Astral Scene rolls in as an early indication of new age music. Brain food for the ears, the disc is certainly a curious period piece.

In my opinion this a completely underrated album. Great arrangements paired with good songs and fine vocals. Please give it a try.You want be disappointed if you like this genre.
Cheers
           SB1



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